On December 15, 2025, a three-judge panel in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delivered a verdict in the conspiracy case against Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Next Digital and the force behind the now-defunct Apple Daily. According to Sing Tao Daily, judges and the prosecution pointed to eight false statements Lai made to deliberately mislead the court.
Here’s a closer look at each of the eight courtroom falsehoods:
- Concealed true purpose of US trip: Although granted bail in May 2020 with a travel ban, Lai applied on June 12, 2020 to modify his conditions—citing family visits, business matters, service providers and a hotel acquisition—but omitted his planned July 4–11 meetings with US officials in Washington, admitting the meetings were too politically sensitive to disclose.
- Denied having heard of IPAC: Despite tagging #IPACGlobal and sharing a Wall Street Journal article on June 13, 2020, evidence showed Lai engaged on WhatsApp with IPAC cofounder Luke de Pulford, contradicting his claim of ignorance.
- Understated editorial involvement: Lai said he issued only two directives to Apple Daily’s management, but messages from April 27, June 3 and June 6, 2019 reveal he urged the newsroom to shape protest coverage and mobilize public support.
- Denied knowledge of illegal primaries: Lai initially claimed ignorance of a primary election when meeting an accomplice on December 31, 2019, but WhatsApp logs proved he funded voting software and covered related expenses in mid-December.
- Denied contact with the “Lam Chau Team”: Though he professed no ties, records show he met Wayland Chan Tsz-wah and Finn Lau Cho-dik at his residence in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan region, in January 2020, and tweeted a salute under #standwithhk in October.
- Denied requesting US sanctions: Lai insisted he never sought sanctions at a July 2019 meeting with Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, yet a July 25, 2019 Apple Daily report quoted him urging sanctions on the HKSAR and the Chinese mainland.
- Denied knowledge of Elmer Yuen’s video: Lai claimed he was unaware of the content, but a draft sent to him two hours before filming shows he approved an open letter calling for US sanctions on China.
- Denied Apple Daily’s involvement in his talk show: Contrary to his testimony that “Live Chat with Jimmy Lai” was personal, internal routines and staff feedback reveal Apple Daily produced, promoted and reviewed the program after each episode.
The judges’ findings mark a pivotal moment in a trial that has drawn international attention to press freedom and political activism in the HKSAR. Lai’s defense now faces the full weight of these contradictions as the case moves forward.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
